It's funny watching the elements come together in this complicated scam. On one hand, the set-up isn't quite as complex as it seems, but there's an easy sense of fun in every exchange.

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

"Mysterious Island" (1961) based on the classic Jules Verne book, is outstanding for a number of reasons: A truly awe-inspiring score by Bernard Herrmann, one of cinema's best ever.Likable cast & characters, including Michael Craig as Captain Harding and Herbert Lom as the eccentric genius Captain Nemo. Good acting & script.Fantastic stop-motion creature F/X by Ray Harryhausen, which hold up pretty well.Compelling adventure/survival story (unlike, say, the comparatively boring "Jason and the Argonauts").A mysterious ambiance.Some interesting musings on humanity's penchant for war & violence and possible solutions, etc.Fabulous Spanish coastal locations; with interesting fake mountain & volcano backdrops (which, I admit, get old after awhile).If you're a red-blooded male you'll find it hard to take your eyes off cutie Beth Rogan (Elena) and her skimpy island outfit. She blows Raquel Welch and her infamous cavegirl outfit in "One Million Years BC" out of the water.Lastly, the seven castaways include African-American Dan Jackson as Corporal Neb Nugent, a likable character just as important as any of the others. This is no big deal today, of course, but keep in mind the film was made in 1961 BEFORE the Civil Rights Movement and five full years before Star Trek featured Uhura as an important cast member in 1966.CONCLUSION: Although "Mysterious Island" is from 1961 it's so well made that its age is irrelevant. It's a must for all fantasy/adventure/survival fans.The film runs 101 minutes.GRADE: A-

Fascinating adventures and glimmer scenarios along with colossal animals (such as an over-size crab, a giant hen and huge bees) , about a band of Union soldiers who flee a Conferate prison . This classic adaptation from Jules Verne novel starts on American Civil War , after the battle of Richmond . Union POWs , an official named Cyrus(James Craig who leads the gang) , Pencroff (Percy Herbert), a journalist (Gary Merrill) ,an African-American soldier and other prisoners escape from jail in an observation balloon and terminate stranded on a lonely South Pacific island . They must use their talents to survive dangers , facing off pirates and devise a way to return home . At the uncharted island find gigantic bugs such as a large chicken , giants crabs , monstrous bees and other enormous animals , among them . The team will have to utilize their ingenious to survive the risks and heinous attacks , making a barge to flee . They also find two shipwrecked women ( Joan Greenwood and a sexpot Beth Rogan ) who unite to the motley group . Off course , also encounter a lone captain Nemo and his riveting submarine of the future called Nautilus . Furthermore, an unstable volcano on the edge of eruption.This follow-up to ¨20.000 leagues under the sea¨ is an exciting fantasy-adventure full of special effects created by means of stop-motion technique by the magician Ray Harryhausen . The runtime is adequate with several incidents and sub-plots , taking too much liberties from original novel . The cast is great but wasted, as weak performance by Herbert Lom with brief performance at the ending and notorious British actors as James Craig , Gary Merrill , Percy Herbert and Joan Greenwood as the washed up woman . Colorful cinematography by Wilkie Cooper with excessive matte-painting , being filmed on location in Benidorm, Alicante,Costa Brava, Paltja d'Aro, Girona, Cataluña, Spain and Shepperton Studios, Shepperton, Surrey, England, (studio). Rousing and thrilling musical score by Bernard Herrmann , Hitchcock's usual . The motion picture is well directed by Cy Endfield and stands out the creatures designed by the master Ray Harryhausen, it's the best adaptation of the known novel .Other versions based on this classic story are the following : 1) Silent rendition made in 1929 ; 2) European take on by Juan Antonio Bardem(1973) with Omar Shariff as captain Nemo , Rick Battaglia , and Gerard Tichy 3) 2005 TV version with Kyle Maclachlan , Gabrilelle Anwar, Omar Gooding , Vinnie Jones, Roy Marsden and Patrick Stewart as Nemo and directed by Russell Mulcahy.

It ought to be kind of fun, especially for the kids. It's a wild adventure story in which a couple of Civil War soldiers are blown in a balloon from Richmond, Virginia, to some island in the South Pacific. There they encounter strange, over-sized animals -- a giant crab, something that looks like a technicolor emu, and a bumble bee the size of Ford Navigator. They also run into two ladies whose ship was wrecked nearby. Of the two ladies, Beth Rogan supplies sex appeal and Joan Greenwood introduces some class. Then, towards the end, they run into Captain Nemo and his Nautilus submarine.A white-haired, sullen Herbert Lom is Captain Nemo. He informs the others that the volcanic island is going to destroy itself in a few days and they must escape by repairing a ship. They get the vessel repaired just in time and they escape. Well, almost all of them escape.In a movie like this, full of phantasmagorical effects, it's hardly possible to make any comments on the acting. No one stands out as particularly good, nor does anyone draw attention to himself by being especially inept.Ray Harryhausen gets four shots at stop-motion animation: the giant crab (which is pretty good, if you ask me), the colorful emu, the excitable bumble bee, and some kind of underwater cephalopod. The other effects -- the exploding mountain and the crumbling underwater ruins -- I attribute to his colleagues in the department. Of course, stop-motion was long ago replaced by CGIs and the images may look dated but they always had their own special brand of charm, especially when their appearances were underscored by Bernard Hermann's music.There is a brief conversation about the ethics of Nemo's goal of stopping war by destroying its instruments and the men who wield them but it doesn't amount to anything. The movie does what it was designed to do -- provoke thrills, not thought.

Compared with other Ray Harryhausen pictures, like the Seventh Voyage of Sinbad, I prefer Mysterious Island. Not because of the effects, but because this movie is actually exciting and well acted / directed. Unlike the very cheesy (still great though in its own right) Seventh Voyage. For example the escape in the balloon delivers some exciting moments and other adventures on the island as well. Great voice over as well, during some scenes. Love the background paintings of the volcano/island. Nice atmosphere, and a great great score form Bernard Herrmann. (my favourite Herrmann score, its rousing!) For those who like the score... there is an absolutely great new re-recording available, spot on performance and conducting. (label: Tribute Film Classics), a work of love. Google it up, enjoy! Highly recommended. (no affiliation)